FLOODPLAINS PILOT COEVORDEN A DELIBERATIVE REPORT The Interreg VB C5a project promotes a more integrated and innovative solution for the effects of climate change. The Cloud-to-Coast (C2C) approach facilitates this. FLOODPLAINS PILOT COEVORDEN - A DELIBERATIVE REPORT The Interreg VB C5a project promotes a more integrated and innovative solution for the effects of climate change. The Cloud-to-Coast (C2C) approach facilitates this. Original Dutch report written by: Beatrijs Koet, Aveco de Bondt BV Translation by: Deirdre Buist-Murphy, Province of Drenthe Commissioned & supplemented by: Rinke van Veen & Leo de Vree, The Province of Drenthe Datum: 15 januari 2021 Referentie: 204187_R_BKT_0189 CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION 5 2 GOALS 6 3 METHOD 7 4 WORKSHOP RESULTS 9 4.1 General 10 4.2 Flooding 10 4.2.1 Local - Delta Plan Spatial Adaptation (DPRA) 10 4.2.2 Regional (NBW/LBW) 10 4.2.3 National (HWBP) 11 4.3 Drought 13 4.3.1 Local 13 4.3.2 Regional 13 4.3.3 National 14 4.4 Water Quality 14 4.4.1 Local 14 4.4.2 Regional 14 4.4.3 National 15 4.5 Social inclusion 15 4.6 Environment and recreation 16 4.7 Agriculture 16 4.8 Biodiversity, Energy and Construction 16 5 CONCLUSIONS 17 5.1 Conclusions of the workshop 17 5.2 Overview 19 5.4 C2C approach, outcomes and indicators 20 5.5 Next steps 20 APPENDIX 1 23 C5a Evaluation sheet 23 Indicators of project results 25 FIGUUR 1: SCHEMATIC VISUAL OF C2C APPROACH 4 1 INTRODUCTION Climate change leads to a significantly higher risk of flooding in the catchment area of the River Vecht and the Ijsselmeer (Ijssel Lake) in the Province of Overijssel. Flood protection measures in this region are mainly focussed on the local situation, where high waters occur. Rising water levels have led to an increase in flood plains, higher quay barriers or dikes. At the same time our changing climate leads to drought in higher grounds. Combatting measures are also being taken here. The connection between these two issues is not always recognized sufficiently. The goal of the C5a project is to promote a more integrated and innovative solution for the effects of climate change. The project aims for efficient and effective adaptation to the results of future climate-related risks. This will be done by not just looking at the physical impacts but also at the economic and social impacts on the whole water system. From this perspective, efforts are focussed on connecting the various stakeholders and policy fields to reach an integral assessment of project proposals. The Cloud-to-Coast (C2C) approach facilitates this process. The C2C approach looks at the whole system. Working inclusively and adaptively on a continuous dialogue under an umbrella parameter. New insights or results should be shared continuously. The whole water system – both local and regional - is taken into account. An adaptive working method is when more future scenarios are deliberated upon and these are considered in the results. An inclusive process allows for all the different actors involved. The C2C approach is currently being developed and tested through pilots. These pilots have been proposed by the partners in the Interreg North Sea Region project C5a. There are ten partners from six different countries with seven current pilots and the project runs from 2019-2021. In this report we deal with one of the pilots: ‘Flood plains at Coevorden – Integrated River Management’. 5 2 GOALS As mentioned in the introduction, the main goal of C5a is to integrate the different economic, social and physical/tangible aspects involved in the process with regards to effective and efficient climate adaptation. With this in mind, the C5a approach has been developed. Aim of the pilot ‘Flood Plains at Coevorden’ is two-fold, being oriented on both process and content. This pilot has been set up to test the C2C approach. Important questions: • What does this approach add to the current process in terms of retention areas? • Is there sufficient knowledge available to make the right decisions regarding the reservation and labelling of the retention areas? Conclusions need to reached per theme. 6 3 METHOD In this pilot, solutions for the water challenges in the The third part of the approach is also dealt with by area of Coevorden are being developed using the C2C adding social inclusion to the scheme. However, the approach. subject matter of the pilot does not lend itself for a A schematic overview of the various aspects is shown large citizen involvement seeing as the topic of flood in the tables below so that it is easy to verify if the plains at Coevorden is politically and environmentally C2C approach is compatible with the steps taken or if sensitive. The adopted strategy is therefore limited in there are possible gaps. The approach as described in terms of inclusion, seeing as only local, regional and the Concept Note provided no concrete step-by-step national government authorities are involved. plan for the workshop, so it was decided to divide into different levels. First steps were taken during the workshop to decide if there is enough information available regarding the By considering the different local, regional and connection between the themes and the flood plains national levels, the whole water system is dealt with. at Coevorden. The themes can be viewed in the table More tasks can be coupled by tackling both flooding below, with a differentiation made between those and drought-related issues at the same time. These that are necessary (these are in green) and those that different levels and themes make adaptive solutions are optional. The optional themes, such as energy possible and support the full system approach. production, housing construction and recreation offer extra opportunities to create support or interconnect. TABEL 3.1: SCHEMATIC OVERVIEW OF THEMES FLOODING DROUGHT WATER SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT AGRI- BIO- ENERGY POTENTIAL QUALITY INCLUSION & RECREATION CULTURE DIVERSITY PRODUCTION HOUSING CONSTRUCTION Local Regional National These themes were discussed during the workshop and an overview was created of the themes with enough available information and where there is a knowledge deficit. It is also unclear whether there is already a thematic interconnection within the retention areas or if such a connection is still necessary. From this we can distil the next steps. 7 8 4 WORKSHOP RESULTS On 19th November 2020 a workshop for the pilot “Flood Plains at Coevorden, Integrated River Management” was held. Below the participants list: TABEL 4.1: WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS ORGANISATION ATTENDEE Province of Drenthe Leo de Vree Province of Drenthe Rinke van Veen Municipality of Coevorden Mark Jurjens Waterboard Vechtstromen Sjon Monincx Province of Overijssel Bart Beukema Waterboard Drents Overijsselse Delta Linda Kuil National Dept. Of Waterways and Public Works (Rijkswaterstaat) Peter Mulder University of Twente Erwin Nugraha Aveco de Bondt (Engineering Consultancy) Eva de Ruiter Aveco de Bondt (Engineering consultancy) Beatrijs Koet The discussions that took place are handled per theme. First there is an introduction with previously collected background information, where available. Then the cursive text relates to the workshop discussions. The last alinea reflects the relation between theme and the retention area. 9 4.1 GENERAL During the workshop there was a short discussion on climate change in general. The following paragraph is a summary: The solutions for both climate adaptation and mitigation often take up a lot of the available space. In a small and overpopulated country like the Netherlands it is always a challenge to find the right balance. Solar parks, water retention areas and the stimulation of biodiversity are all matters that require space – and they often have incompatible effects. Planting woods for extra C02 storage, for example, results in even more drought. When considering measures that require a lot of space, extra thought must be given to the optimal/ most efficient use of this space. 4.2 FLOODING 4.2.1 Local - Delta Plan Spatial Adaptation (DPRA) The Delta Plan for Spatial Adaptation (Deltaplan Ruimtelijke Adaptatie (DPRA)) has been designed to make The Netherlands climate resilient and adaptive to water challenges. Within this framework, the Municipality of Coevorden has carried out a number of stress tests as part of the water alliance Samenwerking Noordelijke Vechtstromen (SNV) – a cooperation of several municipalities, a waterboard and a drinking water company in the region. These stress tests revealed the potential bottlenecks for flooding, heat stress and drought as a result of climate change. These are local results, but the study provides an insight into the impacts of climate change if frequency, intensity and duration of dry, warm and wet periods in the municipality of Coevorden increases. Opening by Mark Jurjens, the Municipality of Coevorden: A lot is happening in Coevorden in terms of the Delta Plan for Spatial Adaptation (DPSA) and the Municipality is actively working on this. Together with the SNV alliance, a tool (Laat je niet Verassen/ Don’t be taken by Surprise) has been made to illustrate the bottlenecks. The Municipality is investing heavily in climate adaptation and investigating how the authority and its citizens can contribute. The dialogue with inhabitants on this matter has had to be rescheduled as a result of Corona virus limitations, but the results can be included in the Municipal Sewerage Plan ( vGRP). The DPSA stress test provides valuable insights into local flood risk areas. A link has not been made with new water retention areas or the need thereof from a DPSA perspective. 4.2.2 Regional (NBW/LBW) In the national administration agreement for water - the NBW (Nationaal Bestuursakkoord Water) - government authorities have set down a strategy, time path and financial plan for cooperating on the great water challenges the Netherlands faces in the 21st Century.